Display device with 3D shutter control unit

ABSTRACT

A system for providing respective video signals to at least two viewers is disclosed. The system includes a control unit; and a display connected to the control unit. The control unit is operable to control the display to alternately display an image from a first video signal and an image from a second video signal, to synchronize a first shuttered filter to the display such that the first filter is shuttered when the second video signal image is displayed, and to synchronize a second shuttered filter to the display such that the second filter is shuttered when the first video signal image is displayed. In this way only the first video signal image is provided to a first viewer using the first shuttered filter and only the second video signal image is provided to a second viewer using the second shuttered filter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/788,663 filed Apr. 3, 2006, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/732,830 filed Apr. 3, 2007, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference, which claims the benefit of the filingdate of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/788,663 filed Apr. 3,2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference.

This application is related to commonly-assigned, co-pending applicationSer. No. 12/503,029, entitled STEREOSCOPIC SCREEN SHARING METHOD ANDAPPARATUS, filed the same day as the present application, the entiredisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

This application is related to commonly-assigned, co-pending applicationSer. No. 12/503,033, entitled 3D SHUTTER GLASSES WITH MODE SWITCHINGBASED ON ORIENTATION TO DISPLAY DEVICE, filed the same day as thepresent application, the entire disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems that incorporate a display,such as are used as television or video monitors, computer monitors, orgame system displays.

Presently, most displays are only able to provide one video, televisionprogram, game, etc. to all viewers of that display. As an example, allplayers of a given video game view the same images on the monitor, andas a result, different visual information cannot be provided todifferent players unless a more complex and more expensive type ofdisplay is used, such as a head mounted monitor.

Similarly, present displays that can provide more than one televisionprogram, game, or video at the same time require all viewers to viewimages from each of the displayed television programs, games, or videos,such as by splitting the display screen image or by providing a picturewithin a picture. Moreover, the audio portion of only one suchtelevision program, game, or video can be provided at a time for thataudio portion to be audible.

It is therefore desirable to provide a “screen sharing” system in whichtwo or more viewers using the same display can each be provided withdifferent images on the display in a manner that does not require eachviewer to also view the images intended for another viewer. It is alsodesirable to provide system that may be configured to provide each userwho is “sharing” a screen with another user the ability to receive theaudio portion associated with the images or content being viewed by thatuser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system in which a display alternatelypresents images from at least two video feeds and in which asynchronized, shuttered filter device is used that only permits theviewing of images from one of the video feeds. A “video feed” may berepresented as any video content, video stream, channel, game output,cable channel, video output from a consumer electronic device, DVR, DVDplayer, motion picture, left parallax video, right parallax video, etc.“Video feeds” may be sourced from single or multiple channels. Videofeeds may be sourced through one or more physical cables or through oneor more internal buses or through any known means for sourcing videoimages, etc.

“Screen sharing” as described herein may generally refer to atime-sharing arrangement where a single user can view 3D content ormultiple users can simultaneously view programming on a singletelevision display using the full screen dimensions and wearing shutterglasses to coordinate each user view of programming sequences.

According to an aspect of the invention, respective video feeds areprovided to at least two viewers using a common display. The display iscontrolled to alternately display an image from a first video feed andan image from a second video feed. A first shuttered filter issynchronized to the display such that the first filter is shuttered whenthe second video feed image is displayed, and a second shuttered filteris synchronized to the display such that the second filter is shutteredwhen the first video feed image is displayed. As a result, only thefirst video feed image is provided to a first viewer using the firstshuttered filter, and only the second video feed image is provided to asecond viewer using the second shuttered filter.

The present invention can apply to solve the issue of two-player splitscreen game where traditional screens are divided in two portions andplayers sit side-by-side and play a game watching one screen with bothplayer perspectives each occupying one half of the screen. The presentinvention can be configured to enable both players to see the fullscreen dimension of their game perspective. It also provides for lessdistraction as the present invention avoids the need for one player tosee the other player's perspective on screen. Therefore, according toanother aspect of the invention, a video game is provided to at leasttwo players using a common display. The display is controlled toalternately display a full-screen image according to a first perspectiveof a video game and a full-screen image according to a secondperspective of the video game. A first pair of LCD shutter glasses issynchronized to the display such that a first player using the firstpair of LCD shutter glasses can play the video game while viewing thevideo game from the first perspective only. A second pair of LCD shutterglasses is synchronized to the display such that a second player usingthe second pair of LCD shutter glasses can play the video game whileviewing the video game from the second perspective only.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a video game is providedto a first viewer and a video program is concurrently provided to asecond viewer using the same display. The display is controlled toalternately display an image from the video game and an image from thevideo program. A first pair of LCD shutter glasses is synchronized tothe display such that a first viewer using the first pair of LCD shutterglasses can play the video game only. A second pair of LCD shutterglasses is synchronized to the display such that a second viewer usingthe second pair of LCD shutter glasses can view the video program only.

The foregoing aspects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill be further appreciated when considered with reference to thefollowing detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting an example of a display and associatedpairs of LCD shutter glasses that operate in accordance with an aspectof the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the sequence of frames presented by thedisplay of FIG. 1 and showing the frames viewed by each wearer of agiven pair of the LCD shutter glasses in accordance with an aspect ofthe invention.

FIGS. 3A-3C are diagrams illustrating various embodiments of a system inaccordance with an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 4 is representational drawing of people watching differentaudio/video content on the same screen in accordance with an aspect ofthe invention.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of glasses and headphones in accordance withan aspect of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a system diagram of glasses in accordance with an aspect ofthe invention.

FIG. 7 is a system diagram of a screen sharing apparatus, incommunication with a television or monitor and multiple inputs, inaccordance with an aspect of the invention.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are system diagrams of a screen sharing apparatuscontained in a set top box and game console, respectively.

FIG. 9 is a functional diagram of audio/video content beingsimultaneously provided to multiple users in accordance with an aspectof the invention.

FIG. 10 is a functional diagram of audio/video content beingsimultaneously provided to multiple users in accordance with an aspectof the invention.

FIG. 11 is a functional diagram of 3-D content being provided to a userin accordance with an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a functional diagram of different game content being providedto multiple users in accordance with an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a functional diagram of different television channels beingprovided to multiple users in accordance with an aspect of theinvention.

FIG. 14 is a functional diagram of different audio/visual content beingprovided to multiple users in accordance with an aspect of theinvention.

FIG. 15 is a functional diagram of game and television audio/visualcontent being provided to multiple users in accordance with an aspect ofthe invention.

FIG. 16 is a functional diagram of game and television audio/visualcontent being provided to multiple users in accordance with an aspect ofthe invention.

FIG. 17 is a functional diagram of game content, from the same game,being provided to users in 3-D and from perspectives particular to eachuser, in accordance with an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 18 is a functional diagram of game content being provided to a userin 3-D, and a movie (or other audio/visual content) being provided to adifferent user in 3-D, in accordance with an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 19 is a functional diagram of game content being provided to a userin 3-D, and a movie (or other audio/visual content) being provided to adifferent user in 2-D, in accordance with an aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides for the use of a single monitor topresent respective video feeds to two or more viewers in a manner thatallows each viewer to only see the images from the video feed intendedfor that viewer. The invention also allows each viewer to only hear thesounds associated with that video feed.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the invention in which a first videofeed comprised of frames A, B, C, . . . and a second video feedcomprised of frames 1, 2, 3, . . . are shown on the same monitor. Themonitor alternately displays an image from each video feed, resulting inthe displayed sequence of images A, 1, B, 2, C, 3, . . . shown in theupper portion of FIG. 2.

A first shuttered filter, such as the leftmost of the two pairs of LCDshutter glasses shown repeatedly in FIG. 1, is synchronized to theframes of first video feed. The first shuttered filter is open when theframes of the first video feed are shown on the monitor and is shutteredwhen the frames of the second video feed are shown on the monitor. Anindividual viewing the monitor through the first shuttered filter, e.g.,by wearing the leftmost pair of LCD shutter glasses, would thereforeonly see the frames of the first video feed and would not see the framesof the second video feed, as shown in the leftmost bottom portion ofFIG. 2.

A second shuttered filter, such as the rightmost of the two pairs of LCDshutter glasses repeatedly shown in FIG. 1, is synchronized to theframes of the second video feed. The second shuttered filter is openwhen the frames of the second video feed are shown on the monitor and isshuttered when the frames of the first video feed are shown on themonitor. Thus, an individual viewing the monitor through the secondshuttered filter, e.g., by wearing the rightmost pair of LCD shutterglasses, would therefore only see the frames of the second video feedand would not see the frames of the first video feed, as shown in therightmost bottom portion of FIG. 2.

The lenses of a pair of LCD shutter glasses are preferably either bothopen or both shuttered at the same time and are synchronized to theimages from one of the displayed video feeds to allow the wearer to viewthe images from that video feed.

Each viewer may also be provided with a speaker that emits only theaudio signals for the video feed provided to that viewer. A first audiosignal associated with the first video feed is provided to the viewer ofthe first video feed, and a second audio signal associated with thesecond video feed is provided to the viewer of the second video feed. Asan example, each pair of the LCD shutter glasses shown in FIGS. 1 and 2may be provided with a headphone or earphone that permits the wearer tohear the sounds for the video feed being viewed by the wearer withoutinterference from the sounds provided to a viewer of another video feed.

Glasses 501 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention areshown in FIG. 5. The glasses may include a frame 505 for holding a leftLCD eyeglass lens 510 and a right LCD eyeglass lens 512. As noted above,each eyeglass lens 510 and 512 can be rapidly and selectively blackenedso as to prevent the wearer from seeing through the lens. Left and rightearphones 530 and 532 are also preferably connected to the frame 505. Anantenna 520 for sending and receiving wireless information may also beincluded in or on the frame 505. The glasses may be tracked via anymeans to determine if the glasses are looking toward the screen. Forexample, the front of the glasses may also include one or more photodetectors 540 for detecting the orientation of the glasses towards themonitor.

The alternating displays of images from the video feed can be providedusing various known techniques. It is preferred that screen 410 beconfigured to operate in a progressive scan mode for each video feedthat is shared on the screen. However the present invention may also beconfigured to work with interlaced video, as described. For a standardtelevision monitor, such as those using an interlaced NTSC or PALformat, the images of the two video feeds may be interlaced and thelines of an image from one video feed may be interleaved with the linesof an image from the other video feed. For example, the odd-numberedlines taken from an image from the first video feed are displayed, andthen the even-numbered lines taken from an image from the second videofeed are displayed.

For applications in which the images of one or more of the video feedsare to provide the appearance of continuous motion, the frequency atwhich the images of both video feeds are shown on the monitor must begreater than that which the human eye can perceive. Thus, the imagesfrom video feeds presented using interlacing/interleaving may be proneto flickering or poor resolution. As an alternative, the images from thetwo video feeds may be alternately presented on the monitor by flippingbetween two pages of video memory that store the two images, known aspage flipping. Also, a progressive scanning monitor may be used incombination with page flipping.

A system diagram of glasses in accordance with an aspect of theinvention is shown in FIG. 6. The glasses may include a processor 602which executes instructions from program 608 stored in memory 604.Memory 604 may also store data to be provided to, or output from,processor 602 as well as any other storage retrieval/storage element ofthe glasses. Processor 602, memory 604 and the other elements of theglasses may communicate with one another over a bus 606. Such otherelements may include an LCD Driver 610 which provides a driver signalwhich selectively shutters left and right LCD lens 612 and 614. The LCDDriver may shutter each left and right LCD lens individually and atdifferent times and durations, or together at the same time andduration.

The frequency at which the LCD lens are shuttered may be stored inadvance in the glasses (e.g., based on the known frequencies of NTSC).Alternatively, the frequency may be selected via means of user input 616(e.g., knobs or buttons to adjust or enter the desired frequency). Yetfurther, the desired frequency as well as the initial shutter starttime, or other information indicating the time period during which theLCD lenses should be shuttered or not regardless of whether such timeperiods are at a set frequency and duration, may be transmitted to theglasses via wireless transmitter receiver 601 or any other inputelement. The wireless transmitter/receiver 601 may comprise any wirelesstransmitter, including a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver.

Audio amplifier 616 may also receive information from the wirelesstransmitter/receiver 601, namely, the left and right channels of audioto be provided to left speaker 622 or right speaker 624. The glasses mayalso include a microphone 630. The microphone 630 may be used inconnection with games providing for voice communication; the voicesignals may be transmitted to a game console or another device viawireless transmitter/receiver 601.

The glasses may also include one or more photo detectors 634. The photodetectors may be used to determine whether the glasses are orientedtowards the monitor. For example, the photo detectors may detect theintensity of light hitting the photo detectors and transmit theinformation to processor 602. If the processor detects a substantialdrop in light intensity, which may relate to the user looking away fromthe monitor, the processor may cease the shuttering of the lenses. Othermethods of determining whether the glasses (and thus user) are orientedtowards the monitor may also be used. For example, one or more camerasin lieu of photo detectors may be used and the captured images examinedby processor 602 to determine whether the glasses are oriented towardsthe monitor. Just a few possible embodiments of using such a camera mayinclude checking contrast levels to detect whether the camera is pointedat the monitor or attempting to detect brightness test patterns on themonitor. The device providing multiple feeds to the monitor may indicatethe presence of such test patterns by transmitting information toprocessor 602 via wireless transmitter/receiver 601.

A system diagram of one aspect of a screen sharing apparatus 710 whichprovides the video to be displayed is illustrated in FIG. 7. Avideo/audio input 720 accepts two or more video and audio inputs such asbut not limited to, and preferably in any combination, from: a cabletelevision set top box 790, game console 792, DVD player 794, VCR 796and a personal computer 798. Though it should be recognized for thepurposes of this invention that a single video stream may represent two“video feeds” or video inputs. The single video stream can be a timedivision multiplexed sequence of video frames characterized by two ormore video feeds or inputs. Also, the video inputs do not need to besourced from multiple devices. Rather, one device may be capable ofpresenting two or more video inputs or video feeds.

With respect to the continuing example, A processor 730 retrieves andstores data in memory 740 and provides signals to the other elements ofthe screen sharing apparatus. Video/audio output 750 multiplexes aselected number of the video signals from the video inputs in a mannersuch that two or more of the video signals follow one anothersequentially in rapid succession on a single video output signal to thetelevision or monitor 780 (it being understood that such single videooutput signal may actually comprise multiple signals, includingcomposite or color signals). Information related to the multiplexedsignals may be transmitted via wireless transmitter/receiver 760 to theglasses. Such information may include the number of video inputsselected for multiplexing, the frequency of the multiplexing, the timeat which a particular video signal is sent to television or monitor 780,an identifier of which video signal is being displayed at a particulartime, and other information. The audio signal from the audio/videoinputs 790-798 may also be transmitted wirelessly from the screensharing apparatus 710 to the glasses.

Although the screen sharing apparatus 710 is schematically illustratedas being separate from the television 780 and video inputs in FIG. 7,the apparatus may be located in a wide variety of devices. For exampleand as illustrated in FIG. 8A, the screen sharing apparatus 710 may beembedded in a set top box having multiple inputs. As shown in FIG. 8B,the screen sharing apparatus may also be contained in a game consolehaving multiple internal audio/video sources, such as two disk bays 861,862 (each capable of rendering content from a game or DVD).

Though only two video feeds and two shuttered filters are shown in FIGS.1 and 2, the invention is also applicable to arrangements in which themonitor shows more than two video feeds and in which more than twosynchronized, shuttered filters are used to allow viewing of each of thevideo feeds.

FIG. 3A illustrate an embodiment of the invention used in a video gamesystem. A game unit stores the software required for playing the videogame and also controls the images delivered to the monitor of atelevision set or computer. The game unit provides two video feeds tothe monitor and controls the monitor to alternately display images fromthe two video feeds, as described above with regards to FIGS. 1 and 2.The game unit is also connected to two or more pairs of LCD shutterglasses and synchronizes the shutter operation of each given pair of LCDshutter glasses to one of the video feeds. The connection between thegame unit and the pairs of LCD shutter glasses may be a physicalconnection or may be a wireless connection, such as using the Bluetoothcommunication protocol.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 9, thus allows each player ofa video game to participate in the game from that player's perspective.One of the video feeds provides a first player with a particular view ofthe activities of the game and may include visual information notprovided to the other player. In a similar manner, the other video feedprovides a second player with a different view of the same game that issuited to that player. Each player wears a pair of LCD shutter glassesthat is synchronized to the images of one of the video feeds and onlyallows the player to view images of that video feed. Also, if headphonesare provided for each player, the first and second players may each beprovided with sounds and/or audio instructions not provided to the otherplayer.

As a variation of this example and shown in FIG. 10, a third pair of LCDshutter glasses is added and is controlled by the game unit to providethe wearer with a spectator mode of the video game in which both viewsof the game may be seen. The third pair of LCD shutter glasses, forexample, may provide one of the pair of shutter glasses with one of thevideo feeds and provide the other of the pair of shutter glasses withanother of the video feeds in manner similar to that used in a 3Dapplication, resulting in a combined view of the images from two videofeeds.

As another example, and as illustrated in FIG. 12, the two video feedsmay provide images of two respective video games. The game unit controlsthe monitor to alternately provide images from each perspective of thetwo video games and synchronizes the two pairs of LCD shutter glassessuch that a particular pair of the LCD shutter glasses only provides aview of one of the video games. Using this arrangement, the two videogames may be played concurrently by different players using the samegame unit and monitor.

FIG. 3B and FIG. 13 show another embodiment of the invention in which aset top box receives various television channels (such as three channelsshowing the shows Seinfeld, Jeopardy and Dragon Tales, respectively)and/or videos and controls the monitor to alternately display imagesfrom each television programs and/or video. The set top box controlseach of the LCD shutter glasses to allow its wearer to view only one ofthe programs and/or videos. The inclusion of headphones also allows eachviewer to hear the audio portion of only the program or video beingviewed. Using this arrangement, two or more individuals can watch andhear different television programs and/or videos at the same time andwhile in the same room and viewing the same monitor.

The invention may be used with any number of video feeds. For example,the set top box shown in FIG. 3B may be configured to receive four ormore video feeds that are cyclically displayed on the monitor, and eachof the video feeds is associated with one of four different pairs of LCDshutter glasses controlled by the set top box and synchronized to thedisplay of its associated video feed.

FIG. 3C and FIG. 14 show a further embodiment of the invention in whicha set top box receives various television channels and/or videos and isalso connected to a game unit from which it receives a video game feed.The set top box controls the monitor to alternately display images fromthe video game and images from the television program or video. Thecontrol unit also synchronizes the shuttering of one of the pairs of LCDshutter glasses to permit its wearer to view the television program orvideo and synchronizes the shuttering of the other pair of LCD shutterglasses to permit its wearer to concurrently play the video game. Usingthis arrangement, an individual can watch and hear a television programor a video at the same time that another individual plays a video gamewith both individuals viewing the same monitor.

In an alternative arrangement, and as shown in FIG. 15, the embodimentshown in FIG. 3C may include a third pair of LCD shutter glasses topermit two individuals to play the video game while, at the same time, athird person watches a television program or video on the same monitor.The two players of the video game may view the video game from the sameperspective, in which case the set top box controls the monitor toalternately display the images from the video game and the images fromthe television program or video. The set top box synchronizes theshuttering of the two pairs of LCD shutter glasses worn by the videogame players to the intervals during which the video game is displayedso that the two players view only the video game.

As a further alternative as shown in FIG. 16 using the embodiment shownin FIG. 3C, each of the two video game players uses the monitor to viewthe video game from a different perspective than the other, and thethird individual watches and hears the television program or video atthe same time also using that monitor. The set top box controls themonitor to cyclically display, e.g., an image from the video game at afirst perspective, an image from the video game at a second perspective,and an image from the television program or video. The set top box thussynchronizes the shuttering of the pairs of LCD shutter glasses to theimages displayed on the monitor such that a wearer of one of the pairsof LCD shutter glasses plays the video game viewed from the firstperspective, a wearer of another of the pairs of LCD shutter glassesplays the video game viewed from the second perspective, and a wearer ofthe third pair of LCD shutter glasses views the television program orvideo.

As shown in FIG. 11, the present invention may also provide one or moreplayers of a video game to play the game with in three-dimensions (3D)view and/or permit one or more viewers to view the television programand/or video in 3D. As shown in FIG. 17, each player of a video game mayview the game in 3D in addition to each viewing the game from adifferent perspective that the other players. Using the arrangementshown in FIG. 3A, for example, the game unit may control the monitor tocyclically show, e.g., a left image frame at a first perspective, aright image frame at the first perspective, a left image frame at asecond perspective, and a right image frame at the second perspective.To attain the 3D effect, the left and right shutters of each pair of LCDshutter glasses are synchronized to different displayed images. Thus,the left shutter of one of the pairs of LCD shutter glasses issynchronized to view the left image frame at the first perspective, andthe right shutter of that pair of LCD shutter glasses is synchronized toview the right image frame at the first perspective. Similarly, the leftshutter of another of the pairs of LCD shutter glasses is synchronizedto view the left image frame at the second perspective, and the rightshutter of that pair of LCD shutter glasses is synchronized to view theright image frame at the second perspective. As a result, each player ofa video game views the game in 3D as well as from his or her particularperspective.

As another example, two viewers may watch different television programsand/or videos in 3D at the same time and while viewing the same monitor,such as using the arrangement shown in FIG. 3B, or one may watch atelevision program or video in 3D while another plays a video gameviewed in 3D from the same monitor, such as using the arrangement shownin FIG. 3C. The monitor is controlled to cyclically display, e.g., aleft image frame from a television program or video, a right image framefrom the television program or video, a left image frame from anothertelevision program or video or from a video game feed, and a right imageframe from the another television program or video or from the videogame feed. The left and right lens of each pair of LCD shutter glassesis thus synchronized such that each wearer views his or her respectivetelevision program, video, or video game in 3D. FIG. 18 schematicallyillustrates one viewer playing a 3D game and another viewer watching a3D movie on the same screen.

In a further example, one or more individuals may play a video game in3D and another individual may watch two-dimensional (2D) images of atelevision program and/or video at the same time and while viewing thesame monitor, such as using the arrangement shown in FIG. 3C. FIG. 19also schematically illustrates such an arrangement. The monitor iscontrolled to cyclically display a left image frame from the video gamefeed, a right image frame from the video game feed, and a frame from thetelevision program or video. The left lens of one pair of LCD shutterglasses is synchronized to the timing of the left image frame from thevideo game feed and the right lens of the pair of LCD shutter glasses issynchronized to the timing of the right image frame from the video gamefeed so that the wearer views the video game in 3D. The left and rightlenses of another pair of LCD shutter glasses are both synchronized tothe timing of the frame from the television program or video and thusallow the wearer to view the 2D television program or video from thesame monitor used to play the video game.

FIG. 4 illustrates three people watching three different videoentertainment programs. In one aspect of the invention, three people451-452 are each wearing glasses, with headphones, in accordance withthe present invention and watching the same television 410. Bravia®television 410 includes a screen sharing apparatus described above, andaccepts three different video inputs, namely, two Sony Playstation gameconsoles 432, 433 and a DVD player 431. The television multiplexes thethree different audio/video inputs together as described, and wirelesstransmits information regarding which visual input is being displayed atany particular time to the glasses. The first person's (451) glasses areshuttered such that he or she can only see through the glasses when theTerminator movie 461 (playing on DVD player 431) is being shown on thescreen of television 410. The second person's (452) glasses areshuttered such that he or she can only see through the glasses when theMotorStorm game 462 (playing on Playstation console 432) is being shownon the same television 410. The third person's (453) glasses areshuttered such that he or she can only see through the glasses when thePacMan game 463 (playing on Playstation console 433) is being shown onthe same screen. The audio corresponding with DVD player 431, and gameconsoles 432, 433 is also wireless transmitted to the glasses of persons451, 452 and 453, respectively. In this manner, each person 451-453 canuse a single television to listen and watch three different audio/videosources.

In addition to the above examples, the invention also enables the use ofa common monitor to provide other combinations of video games,television programs, and videos together with other combinations of 2Dor 3D presentations and/or different perspectives.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A frame; first and second shuttered filters attached to the frame,wherein each shuttered filter is configured to selectively prevent aviewer from seeing through the filter in response to a signal from acontroller, wherein the first and second shuttered filters are operablein synchronization with alternate display on a common monitor of animage corresponding to a left perspective of a scene and an imagecorresponding to a right perspective of the scene, wherein the first andsecond shuttered filters are synchronized to the monitor such that thefirst filter is shuttered when the left perspective image is displayedand the second shuttered filter is shuttered when the right perspectiveimage is displayed, thereby alternately providing left and rightperspective images for perception as a 3D images, wherein first andsecond shuttered filters are further synchronized with shuttering of oneor more additional shuttered filters and alternate display of one ormore images from a different scene on the common monitor, whereindisplay of the one or more images from the different scene is timemultiplexed with the alternate display of the images corresponding tothe left and right perspectives; and a tracker attached to the frame andconfigured to sense an orientation of the one or more shuttered filtersrelative to a video screen.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the oneor more shuttered filters include a first shuttered filter and a secondshuttered filter.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first andsecond shuttered filters and the frame are configured as a pair ofglasses.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tracker includes one ormore photo detectors.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the one ormore photo detectors include first and second photo detectors in aspaced-apart configuration.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thetracker includes a camera.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising one or more audio speakers attached to the frame.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 7 wherein the one or more audio speakers includefirst and second audio speakers configured to provide soundsrespectively to a listener's left and right ears.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the one or more shuttered filters include one or moreLCD shutters.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising awireless antenna coupled to the one or more shuttered filters and/or thetracker.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wirelessreceiver connected to the frame.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 furthercomprising one or more speakers connected to the frame and operablycoupled to the wireless receiver wherein the wireless receiver isconfigured to receive an audio feed and couple the audio feed to thespeakers.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wirelesstransmitter connected to the frame and coupled to the tracker.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 13 wherein the wireless transmitter is configured totransmit information characterizing the orientation of the apparatus toa control unit.
 15. A video system comprising: a shuttered filterapparatus having a frame, first and second shuttered filters attached tothe frame, and a tracker attached to the frame and configured to sensean orientation of the one or more shuttered filters relative to a videoscreen; and a control unit, wherein the control unit is operable tosynchronize shuttering of the first and second shuttered filters insynchronization with alternate display on a common monitor of an imagecorresponding to a left perspective of a scene and an imagecorresponding to a right perspective of the scene, wherein the first andsecond shuttered filters are synchronized to the monitor such that thefirst filter is shuttered when the left perspective image is displayedand the second shuttered filter is shuttered when the right perspectiveimages displayed, thereby alternately providing left and rightperspective images for perception as a 3D images, wherein the controlunit is further operable to synchronize shuttering of the first andsecond shuttered filters with shuttering of one or more additionalshuttered filters and alternate display of one or more images from adifferent scene on the common monitor, wherein display of the one ormore images from the different scene is time multiplexed with thealternate display of the images corresponding to the left and rightperspectives wherein the control unit is operable in response to asignal indicative of an orientation of the one or more shutter filtersrelative to the video screen such that shuttering of the first or secondfilter is enabled when the shuttered filter apparatus is facing towardthe video screen and wherein the shuttering is disabled when theshuttered filter apparatus is facing away from the video screen.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control unit that is operablein response to a signal indicative of an orientation of the one or moreshutter filters relative to the video screen, wherein the control unitis configured to enable shuttering of the one or more filters inresponse to a signal indicating that the shuttered filter apparatus isfacing toward the video screen and wherein the control unit isconfigured to disable the shuttering in response to a signal indicatingthat the shuttered filter apparatus is facing away from the videoscreen.